Job 24:18
16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.
20 The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- They are but foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one turns toward their vineyards.
- KJV
- He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
- WEB
- “They are foam on the surface of the waters. Their portion is cursed on the earth. They don’t turn into the way of the vineyards.
- ASV
- Swiftly they [pass away] upon the face of the waters; Their portion is cursed in the earth: They turn not into the way of the vineyards.
- DARBY
- He is swift on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed on the earth: he turneth not unto the way of the vineyards.
- BLB
- He is swift on the face of the waters; cursed [is] their portion in the land. He does not turn to the way of the vineyards.
- ÅB
- Hastig[^1] rives de med av strømmen; forbannet blir deres arvedel i landet; de ferdes ikke mere på veien til vingårdene.
- OTB
- De er ubetydelige på vannets overflate;
Deres jordstykke er forbannet på jorden.
De vender seg ikke mot vingårdene. - B1930
- Hastig rives de med av strømmen; forbannet blir deres arvedel i landet; de ferdes ikke mere på veien til vingårdene. / < mener I.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 28:16–20
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
Read in contextMalachi 2:2
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Read in contextIsaiah 23:10
Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.
Read in contextPsalms 73:18–20
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Read in contextPsalms 69:22
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
Read in contextJob 9:26
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
Read in contextProverbs 3:33
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
Read in contextJob 22:16
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
Read in context